Ray Salas’ Post

It’s Tax Day again, an annual source of anxiety for millions of Americans. But this year, April 15th also happens to be “I Totally Got This Day”, which I think fits perfectly as well because it’s a great #opportunity to reflect on the moments in our lives when we reached a goal or milestone by overcoming anxiety or fear. That’s exactly how my career in #finance got started. After graduating from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo with a degree in economics, I applied to roughly 20 Wall Street firms and received letters back from every one of them thanking me for my interest - but zero invitations for an interview. Despite that inauspicious start I kept going, convincing myself that “I totally got this” until my perseverance paid off and I got an opportunity to prove that I belonged. Now I’m the CIO of Nuveen, a TIAA company, a top-20 global asset manager, and the lessons I learned about overcoming adversity by having the right mindset have helped me achieve several personal and professional goals since then. A career in #finance is something that can and should be open to anyone with a passion for it and a determination to succeed. Those of us in a position to do so can make this a reality by expanding our industry’s recruiting programs to include a broader array of educational experiences and by considering candidates with backgrounds that break away from certain stereotypes. But we can also help young people develop that right mindset to succeed, and reminding them that “You totally got this!” #educationaldiversity

Here's some information I hope you find helpful! The Great Wealth Transfer: A New Era of Opportunity

Over the past week (in between working & studying for law school finals in 2 weeks), I've been watching the CNN series about the different decades. As I near the completion of the 2000s segment, I had an "ah ha" moment. 💡💡 With all of the rhetoric, misinformation, whooping, and crying over DEIB, I decided to provide a reminder of all of the companies that have FAILED over the past 2+ decades...NONE of which (for those in the back row!) were led by BIPOC or FEMALE LEADERS. 🤔🤔 Many of these CEOs & CFOs were hired based on NEPOTISM (i.e., "Didn't Earn It"/DEI) or through their personal networks. They were not the smartest person in the room. They were not the best qualified for the job...yet they were paid MILLIONS of dollars in salaries & bonuses, while robbing the company and destroying the lives of their employees, customers, investors, and ultimately...taxpayers (i.e., bailouts!). 😡😡 Yet...these same naysayers want to blame the bridge collapse in Baltimore or the faulty window on a plane on DEIB initiatives. Make it make sense. The math isn't mathing! 🤨😏🙂↕️ If we keep doing the same thing...expecting different results....well you know what that is already. 😵💫😵💫 Yet...this is what MANY of the anti-DEI naysayers want - no change! Keep the current (dysfunctional, non-inclusive) systems in place because they "work" based on "merit." And oh yeah - everyone has a fair & equal shot at success. 🙄😒 Here's the list I started...in no certain order (although I'm certain I missed some). Feel free to add more in the comments. 👇🏽👇🏽 Lehman Brothers Bear Stearns Enron WorldCom Bernie Madoff Arthur Anderson Countrywide Mortgage New Century Ameriquest Washington Mutual Bank Signature Bank Silicon Valley Bank First Republic WeWorks Merrill Lynch Stanford Financial Group AIG Blackberry Blockbuster Gateway Spirit Airlines U.S. Housing Crash Dot.com Companies #tanaspeaks #inclusion #equity #organizationaldevelopment #belonging #culture #humanresources #multigenerational #diversity #allyship #consultant

Transitioning into the corporate world didn’t come without the fear of “corporate culture”. Today I had a Commonwealth Financial Network Managing Partner use the following phrases during a professional development course: 🏆 The Golden Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated. 🤝 Humanize the Work 🌸 Blossom Where You’re Planted 🔮Channel Humanity Lessons Learned: ✔️ Take the Risk ✔️ Overcome the Fear ✔️ Trust your Intuition S/O 📣 Andrew Daniels for your passion, lessons, and for confirming I made the right decision joining #Commonwealth #corporateculture

Wealth Professional has revealed the Top 40 Under 40 Rising Stars, exceptional financial advisors carving out meaningful careers through hard work, emotional intelligence, and expertise. Canada’s outstanding young professionals give clients unbiased financial advice and mentor colleagues to reach the same career heights. Read the full report to learn more about the skillsets and winning strategies of the wealth sector’s promising financial advisors under 40. https://hubs.la/Q029Xy7m0

Co-founder of Oaktree Capital, Howard Marks, advises students to choose careers that leverage their strengths and avoid weaknesses. He emphasizes the importance of enjoying what you do. Marks reminds us of the fortune in being able to do something we love. Take away that joy, and what's left? We have just one life, and it's crucial to make the most of it. Opting for a job you dislike, just for financial gain, is a 'world-class mistake,' according to Marks. His words encourage us to prioritize personal fulfilment over monetary incentives in our careers. Life's too short for unenjoyable work. Choose passion, choose happiness. #founders #careeradvice #students

Starting out as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch was one of the toughest phases of my life. It wasn't the workload that got to me, but rather the intense pressure of the job. I found myself at the bottom of the class, struggling to grasp everything from client relations to making deals at neck break pace. It felt like every task took me an eternity to complete, with sleepless nights becoming a regular occurrence. That's when I realized that the real problem wasn't my understanding of the job, it was my lack of confidence and constant self-doubt. It all changed when I started believing in myself. Suddenly, things clicked into place. My work improved, relationships flourished, and I took arduous challenges with ease. Fast forward a year, and I was at the top of my class. Confidence transformed my approach, empowering me to tackle obstacles head-on. It has helped me work smarter, take calculated risks, and step out of my comfort zone. Trusting my instincts has now become second nature, boosting my productivity and resilience every day. I'm eager to hear about your journey. How have you evolved professionally over the years? Share your insights in the comments below.

When is the right time to retire? Here are some good examples of how to think about what's right for you - and how to prepare. One thoughtful comment from a retired CEO shows the value of succession planning: he "felt he had developed a stable of other executives who could take on the top role, making the decision easier." #retirementbydesign #successionplanning #lawyerretirement

As employees within the Financial Services industry, our day jobs are dedicated to generating the significant financial returns that our clients, employers, and teams expect. Yet when it comes to our own personal finances, are we doing enough to generate and build the long term, sustainable wealth that could make a difference to our prospects? For our next circle, EnCircle’s Yvonne Y. is joined by Jeremy Agorom, Owner and Managing Director at Whitfield Wealth Management and Davinia Tomlinson, Founder of rainchq. Join us as we delve into the ins and outs of generating wealth and putting yourself in the driver’s seat of your fiscal future. Register here: https://bit.ly/43ofzW3   This is a great opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and guidance on your journey towards generating wealth.   We look forward to seeing you there!   The EnCircle team ____ Our circles are aimed at professionals looking to take the next step in their career.    Hosted monthly, the group mentoring sessions are led by senior figures from financial and professional services who share their personal experiences, and discuss the tools required to navigate the barriers faced throughout their careers.   EnCircle Team: Justin Onuekwusi, CFA, Rebecca O., Marina Ebrubah  Yvonne Y.,  Daniel May Alix (Landais) Timothy, Nneka Opara, Batsi Kashora, CFA, MBA. EnCircle sponsors: Man Group, State Street Global Advisors, Barrington Hibbert Associates, BlackRock, Goldman Sachs EnCircle supporters: Diversity Project - Investment Industry, #Talkaboutblack#Talkaboutblack #BuildingFutureLeaders #encirclementoring #mentorship #businessmentorship #assetmanagement #mentoringcircles #careerprogression #careergrowth #representation #mentoringmatters #networkingevent #assetmanagement #networking

When I entered the corporate world many years back, one thing became very clear to me early on... I wasn't prepared for the onslaught of what I encountered during my initial foray into the industry at Barclays Investment Bank. Where do you learn the following? -           How to contend with office politics -           How to navigate organizational hierarchy effectively -           What to do when you don't see eye to eye with your manager -           How to build your brand in the workplace so you can be noticed -           How to prepare appropriately for performance reviews As much as I loved my experience at Questrom School of Business, Boston University, this was not part of the curriculum nor taught when I was onboarded at Barclays. The reality is that you learn things the hard way while on the job. It took me many years to learn and adapt, but I wish I had someone or resources to help me navigate all this when I began my career. To that end, Kasia Siwosz and I are taking our 35 years of experience in the investment banking space and pouring all our knowledge into learning experiences to help serve the next generation of Wall Streeters for a more seamless assimilation to an ultra-competitive industry. We appreciate the collaboration with CourseClout and Delano Covarrubias and are all working towards a launch in the coming weeks... We also appreciate the support and guidance from Patrick Curtis and Wall Street Oasis. #learninganddevelopment #payitforward #wallstreet #nextgeneration